Method and apparatus for building roads



March 5, 1935. GARDINER 1,993,656

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed April 9, 1952 5 Shets-Sh88t 1 IN VEN TOR.

4/027 Garakzer A T TORNEYS March 5, 1935. L. GARDINER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed April 9, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. A1 01? @QTMTTQF B gin/M ATTORNEYS.

March 5, 1935. L. GARDINER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed April 9, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR. Lion Gard/her March 5, 1935. 1.. GARDINER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed April 9, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 INVENTOR. W 11027 Gardiner A TTORN E YS.

March 5, 1935.

L. GABDINER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed April 9, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR. A fan Garoi ler BY W Y ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES DIETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Hon Gardiner, couiinbus, Ohio, assignor to m Jaeger Machine Company, Columbus, Ohio. a

corporation of Ohio Application April 9, 1932, Serial No. 604,229

24 Claims.

My invention relates to method and apparatus for building roads. It has to do primarily with an apparatus for receiving previously mixed concrete or other road building material and forming thereof a finished monolith of the desired section and contour.

In the prior art, efforts have been made to provide a means for receiving and automatically delivering and spreading previously mixed concrete upon the road surface. However, the prior art devices used for this purpose have been impractical or lacking in eiiiciency, for several important reasons. Such prior art devices have either involved the shoving of a plow structure or a fiat 1 vertical surface against the material to be spread upon the surface for the purpose of reducing it to a substantially uniform level or they have in volved the placing of the material upon the subsurface substantially by a gravity feed. Furthermore, these prior art devices have been devoid of any means for adjusting the important parts of the spreading apparatus to compensate for irregularities inevitably arising from the varying c'onsistencies of different batches of concrete supplied to the spreader. Likewise, the prior art devices have been of such a nature that the spreading mechanism has been inadequate to effectually eliminate interstices or voids from the slab, or to n cumly compact the material. Various other disadvantages of prior art devices will appear as this description progresses.

One object of my invention is to provide an apparatus that will receive previously mixed concrete or other road building material and distribute it to a uniform level to form a slab of greater density and more uniform consistency than can be obtained by present methods.

Another object is to provide a machine that wil receive previously mixed road material and distribute it to form a monolith of uniform texture and density to form a most durable roadway.

Another object is to provide a road making machine adapted to move upon side rail forms, that will receive previously mixed road building material and distribute the material uniformly between the side-rail forms so it will be free from interstices and of more uniform consistency throughout.

A further object of the invention is to provide a road building machine of the class described that wi l receive previously mixed road material from conveying trucks or mixers at the side of the prepared road-bed and form therewith a slab of the desired section and contour at one continuous operation.

(Cl. 9H6) Another object of my invention is to provide a road building machine of the class described that will continuously and with a minimum of labor, produce a slab, the exposed edges of which are substantially free from pockets, crevices, and 5 interstices that are now customarily eliminated by hand spading.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine that will lend itself readily to operation in conjunction with truck mixers, that will ad- 10 vance with a maximum of ease through a substantial quantity of material to be spread and that will adequately and effectively take care of concrete batches of varying consistency.

In its preferred form my invention contemplates the production of the monolithic slab in two or more superimposed accurately leveled layers adapted to receive reinforcing steel or other separating material between them, the lower layer or layers being spread by oppositely pitched screw. spreaders operating below the point of the side forms and at the approximate level of the layer being formed, and the upper layer or layers being spread by similarly pitched screw spreaders operating at a higher level or levels. The apparatus which I preferably utilize for the performance of this method comprises right and left-hand screw spreaders in conjunction with a strike-oil plate and with such conveyers and strike-011 plate mounted for adjustment so that they can be adjusted as a unit to various levels, either below the top of the side forms or immediately above the top thereof.

My apparatus is preferably of such form that the material to be spread may be readily delivered downwardly onto the approximate juncture of oppositely pitched screw spreaders while, at the same time, space is provided in advance of said screw spreaders for the accumulation of a substantial quantity of the material to be spread. Moreover, important advantages arise from the fact that any material deposited uponthe surface for subsequent spreading by the screw spreaders will be first attacked by the screw spreaders, instead of some other leveling unit involving substantially vertical surfaces such as a plow or the front of a hopper. Another important aspect of my apparatus arises from the fact that I provide a means for adjusting both the screw spreader members and the strike-oil plate during the operation of the apparatus and am thereby enabled to compensate for varying consistency in the concrete batches.

Furthermore,- my apparatus preferably comprises a conveying means which is so disposedthat 2 1,99a,ese

it .may receive the previously mixed concrete at or adjacent to the side of the roadway and will then deliver it to a hopper which is mounted to deliver this material to the inner ends of the right and left-hand screws spreaders. Also, this hopper is preferably adjustable along the axis of such right and left-hand screw spreaders to vary the proportion of the mixed material which is delivered to each screw. Likewise, my apparatus preferably embodies an automatically operable means for tamping the concrete substantially synchronously with the spreading operation, the entire structure being preferably designed to travel upon the side forms normally used in the construction of concrete roads.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure l is a perspectiveview of the complet machine in operative position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the complete machine.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Figure 2 as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one end of the distributor assembly, with parts broken away, to show the construction thereof.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section of the conveyer assembly taken substantially on line 5--5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view similar to Figure 5, showing details of construction.

Figure 7 is a detail in section of a portion "of the supporting structure for the tamper which I utilize.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of my apparatus, with the conveyer assembly pivotally mounted so that it may be rotated to a position extending longitudinally of the roadway or at an angle thereto.

Figure 9 is a transverse section through the approximate center of the distributing conveyer assembly of the modified form of my invention shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail view partially in section showing a modified form of strike-oif plate.

Figure 11 is rear elevation of the structure shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an end view, partially in section, of my invention with the conveyer assembly modifled to receive and convey the mixed material from either side of the road;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the central part of the structure shown in Figure 12, with parts broken away to show the construction there 0 Figure 14 is an elevation showing the method of adjusting the screw conveyer spreading mechanism to operate at various levels.

- In the drawings, my invention is shown as comprising a main frame 1, made up of channel irons 2 and 3 which are bolted together with end beams 4 and 5 and across member 6. Additional I-beams 7, 8, 9 and 10, extending longitudinally of the structure, serve to strengthen the structure and provide support for various units of my apparatus.

The structure just described is preferably supported at four point by means of the flanged wheels 11, 12, 13 and 14 adapted to run upon the flanged side rail forms A and B. Wheel 11 is keyed to a shaft 17, which is supported by a bearing 18 attached to the under side of the longitudinal I-beam 7 and by a suitable bearing (not shown) in the side channel 2. A driven sprocket 19 is keyed to the inner end of shaft 17 and rotation of this shaft and consequent rotation of wheel 11 is effected by means of the sprocket chain 20 which is driven by sprocket 22 on the cross-shaft 23. In like manner, wheel 14 on the opposite side of the' machine is similarly supported and driven by sprockets 24 and 26 and chain 25. Rear wheel 12 is keyed to shaft 12a, running in bearing 27, attached to the under side of the I- beam 7, and by a suitable bearing in the side channel 2.

A sprocket 28 is keyed to an extension of shaft 12a, and a similar sprocket 21 is keyed to an extension of shaft 17, the sprockets 21 and 28 being simultaneously driven by a chain 29. A similar construction on the opposite side of the machine supports and drives wheel 13, providing a four wheel drive by means of which, when properly actuated, the machine may be propelled either forward or backward upon the side rails.

The cross shaft 23, running in bearing 30, 31-

ings 42 and 43. To it are keyed sprockets 44,

45, 46 and 47. The counter-shaft 38 is driven by means of sprocket 46 and chain 48 from sprocket 49. The sprocket 49 may be driven by an internal combustion engine or by any other suitabletype of motor.

The spreader assembly is mainly comprised of the oppositely-pitched spiral conveyer sectlcns 56 and 51, the adjustable strike-off plate 52 and wing plates 62 and 64. It is mounted transversely of the main frame of the machine and operates to spread the mixed concrete between the side forms A and B. I

As shown best in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the arms 53 and 54 are pivotally attached at their forward ends'to the rear of the transverse cross member 6 by means of the angle plates 55 and the pivot pins 56. Braces 5'7 and 58 are likewise pivoted to the cross member 6. At their rear ends, the arms 53 and 54 are bent inwardly at a right angle and secured by means of bolts 59 and 60 tothe transverse channel member 61.

An end plate 62, bolted to side arm 53, together with an angle plate 63 bolted to end plate 62 and to the cross channel member 61, prevents spilling of concrete over the side forms, and serves to deflect the concrete discharged from the end of the spreader assembly downward along the side forms. Similar plates 64 and 65 are attached to side arm 54 and the channel 61 at the opposite end of the spreader assembly.

The strike-off plate 52 is attached to the channel member 61 by means of bolts 63 through slotted holes to permit vertical adjustment of the strike-off plate relative to the spiral spreader.

The spreader conveyer 56-51 is comprised of two sections of oppositely pitched screw conveyers revolving freely upon suitable bearings on the cross shaft 65, which is carried in the bosses 68 and 69, and held in place by means of ;he pin 70.

At the junction of the conveyer sections 5051 in the middle of the assembly a sprocket 71 is provided, surrounded by a chain case 72, attached at its rear end of the channel 61, and pivoted at its forward end to the cross member 6. by means of pivot pins 56. Rotation may be imparted to the conveyer 50-51 by means of a chain 73 passing over the sprocket 71 and the sprocket 74 keyed to the cross shaft 75. A bame 76, bolted to the upper edge of cross channel 61 (see Figure 3), prevents spilling of concrete upon the finished road surface.

The pivoted spreader assembly is supported (see Figure 3) by means of the hanger brackets 77 and 78, the links 79 and 80, and the hanger arms 81 and 82. The hanger arms 81 and 82 are secured to the shaft 83. The shaft 83 is supported in the bearings 84, 85, 86 and 87. A latch lever 88 is secured to the shaft 83, by means of which the angular position of the arms 81 and 82 may be changed and thereby the spreader assembly may be readily adjusted to operate above or below the top level of the side forms or at any intermediate position, as illustrated in Figure 14.

A conveyer assembly, extending transversely immediately above the distributing conveyer 5051, is adapted to receive concrete from a suitable conveyance at the side of the machine and discharge it into an. adjustable hopper directly above the junction of the two sections of the distributor. Two parallel channel members 90 and 91 are bolted to cross members 92, 93 and 94, and these in turn are supported by and, attached to frame members 8, 9 and 10.

Adjacent to the outer end of channel members 90 and 91, the shaft 95 with the belt pulley 96 runs in adjustable boxes 97 and 98. Boxes 97 and 98 may be moved longitudinally of members 90 and 91 by means of threaded adjusting bolts 99 and 100 and locking nuts to adjust the tension of the conveyer belt.

Belt pulley 101 is keyed to shaft 102 which runs in bearings carried on the members 90 and 91. A shaft 104, (see Figure 2) having keyed to it the bevel pinion 105 and the chain sprocket 106, runs in bearings 107 a nd 108 bolted to the channel member 90. Bevel pinion 105 meshes with bevel gear 109 keyed to an extension of shaft 102. A sprocket chain 110 runs over sprocket 106 and sprocket 111 keyed to the cross shaft 75.

A series of rollers 112, (see Figure 3) in suitable bearings 113, in members 90'and 91 serve to support the endless conveyer apron 114 running over belt pulleys 96 and 101.

As shown in Figures '5 and 6, the conveyer box 115, attached to the members 90 and 91 by suitable brackets 116, has at its lower edge flexible flaps 117, attached to the box 115 by means of plates 118 and bolts 119. The free edges of these flexible flaps 117 are in contact with the upper surface of the conveyer apron 114, its purpose being to prevent loss of material between the conveyer apron and the box 115.

As shown best in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the hopper 120 is supported by the wheels 121, 122, 123 and 124, running upon the upper flanges of the channel members 90 and 91. U-shaped channels 125 and 126, having cut-away portions in their bases adjacent their ends to receive the wheels 121, 122, 123 and 124, are bolted to the sides of the hopper 120, the wheels running on axles 125a, and the rod 127, retained in place by split keys.

A crank 128, supported by bearings 129 and 130, and having arms 131 and 132 attached thereto, is connected to cross rod 127 by means of the links 133 and 134. By meansof the crank 128 the hopper 120 can be shifted back and forth along members 90 and 91 so as to discharge concrete in variable proportions to the two sections of the spreading conveyer 5051, increasing or decreasing the flow of concrete to 'one or the other sides of the roadway as may be required as the spreader progresses.

A tamping unit, which is preferably used in connection with my apparatus, is illustrated best in Figures 1, 2 and 7. It preferably takes the form of a member extending transversely across the road and designed to be reciprocated vertically to effect an automatic tamping of the concrete which has been spread, as the apparatus progresses. The manner of supporting and operating this tamping unit will now, be described.

At the rear of the structure a transverse memher 135 is bolted to the under side of members 7 and 8. A second member 136 is bolted to the upper side of members 5 and 135.

A shaft 13'? extending transversely at the rear of the machine is joumaled in suitable hearings in members 8, 9 and 136. At one end it carries a bevel gear 138 which meshes with a bevelgear l39 idly mounted upon shaft 140. This gear 139 is provided with clutch jaws, adapted to engage the clutch 141 which is splined upon the shaft 140.

The shaft 137 is provided with cams 142 and 143 adapted to engage the rollers 144 and 145, attached by means of slotted upstanding brackets 146 and 147 to a transverse tamping bar 148.

As shown in Figure 7, a means is provided for exerting 'a downward pressure upon the tamping bar 148 so that this tamping bar will be moved downwardly to eil'ect its tamping action when relieved from the lifting force of the cams 142 and 143, which occurs once during each rotation of the shaft. It will be apparent from this that by the engagement of the clutch 141 the tamping bar may be caused to automatically raise and lower intermitten ly to effect the tamping action or, by disengagement of the clutch 141, this tamping bar may be rendered inoperative.

Other suitable means for exerting a downward pressure may be used. such as elliptical or semielliptical springs. Also, a means may be provided for holding the tamping bar out of contact with the surface when inoperative.

The mechanism for driving the right and lefthand spreader members takes its power from the shaft 38 (see Figure 2) through the medium of the sprocket 44, sprocket chain 150 and sprocket 151 idly mounted on the shaft 75 and capable of being connected thereto through the medium of the clutch 152. Adjacent one end of the shaft 75 is keyed a sprocket 74 which is designed to drive the sleeve carrying the right and left-hand screw members by means of a sprocket chain 73 and a sprocket 71 mounted on the said sleeve.

The mechanism for driving the conveyer belt which delivers the mixed concree to the adjacent ends of the right and left-hand screw members takes its power from the shaft 75 through the medium of the sprocket 111 keyed thereon,

sprocket chain 110 and sprocket 106 on a stub shaft 104. This stub shaft 104 carries a bevel gear 105 adjacent one end and this bevel gear meshes with a bevel gear 109 carried upon the drum shaft 102 of the conveyer.

sides of the side forms.

The mechanism for driving the tamper operating shaft takes its power from the shaft 38 through the medium of the sprocket 45, sprocket chain 45a and sprocket 45b carried upon a stub shaft 450. This stub shaft 450 carries a bevel gear 45d which meshes with a bevel gear 140a upon the adjacent end of the shaft 140.

The mechanism for effecting translatory movement of the apparatus as a whole takes its power from the shaft 38 through the medium 0! the sprocket 47, sprocket chain 154 and sprocket 155 carried upon the shaft 156 of a speed reducing mechanism generally designated 157. The power is transmitted from this speed reducing mechanism through a sprocket 156, chain 159 and sprocket 160 to a shaft161 whose opposite end carries the pinion 39 meshing with the gear 35, previously described as being idly mounted upon the shaft 23.

In operation of my apparatus it will be apparent that it may receive and spread the mixed concrete either while remaining in stationary position or while traveling along the road form. In any event, in the preferred form, the material is delivered to the conveying mechanism at one or both sides of the road and thence delivered to the adjacent ends of the right and lefthand screw spreaders. By the mechanism indicated, the proportionate amount of material delivered to each of the right and left-hand screw spreaders may be regulated at will.

The right and left-hand screw spreaders are located in front of and close to the strike-off plate 52. Because of the direction of rotation of these spreaders the material, being received at the inner ends thereof, is not only automatically spread across the road surface by means of the spiral blade structures, but, being confined between the spreaders and the strike-off plate, is simultaneously subjected to a wiping and spading action and is forced downward.

A similar action takes place at the ends of the right and left-hand screw spreader members where the wing plates 62 and 64 prevent the escape of the mixed concrete and directs it downwardly causing it to flow along the inner This forced flow of the concrete results in the formation of a mortar surface and elimination of voids and interstices that would otherwise be removed by hand spad- During the progression of the spreading action, the strike-off plate is acting upon the mixed concrete that has been already spread to give it the proper grade and crown. Likewise, the automatically operated tamping mechanism is operating in the rear of the strike-off plate to properly tamp the surfaces and render it more homogeneous.

In Figures 8 and 9, I have shown a modified form of mechanism for conveying the mixed concrete to the adjacent ends of the right and lefthand screw spreading member. In this form, the conveying unit is rotatable about its discharge end on the circular tracks 163 and 164 so that it may be disposed with its receiving end at the front of my apparatus, or at an angle to the roadway. It preferably comprises an endless belt 114 with a means (not shown) for drivin this belt while in any position. It is also shown with a flaring flanged structure 115 to effectually guide the mixed material onto the belt.

At the delivery end of the belt, the material is discharged downwardly onto the adjacent ends of the right and left-hand screw members or onto either one of them. The amount of the mixed concrete delivered to each of these members is regulable by means of a pivotally mounted and adjustable valve member 165 which is controllable by means of the lever member 166 which may be maintained in adjusted position by any suitable mechanism.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a modified form of strike-on plate which I may use under certain conditions. It mainly differs from the strike-oil plate shown in the preferred form of my invention by the provision of means for automatically reciprocating the strike-off plate transversely of the road during the operation of my spreading mechanism. The means shown for effecting this reciprocation comprises a pitman 167 connected pivotally at one end to the strike-off plate as at 168 and pivotally connected at its other end to a crank disk 169. This crank disk 169 is keyed to a shaft 170 which may be driven by the sprocket 1'71 and chain 172 receiving power from the power mechanismof my apparatus as desired.

A still further modification of my invention is illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. In this modification, means is provided for conveying the mixed concrete to the spiral spreading members from either side of the road. In order to accomplish this, twin conveying members are provided which are each substantialy identical with the conveying member shown in the preceding figures and which both deliver into a single adjustable hopper 173. The adjustable hopper and the means of adjusting the same is substantially identical to that shown in Figures 1 and 3 and the adjustment thereof makes possible the regulation of the proportionate amount of mixed concrete delivered to each of the right and lefthand screw spreading members. Means is also preferably provided for operating the conveying belts of these twin conveying members either simultaneously or independently of each other.

It will be apparent, from the above, that I have provided a superior method and apparatus for building concrete roads. For example, one superior characteristic of my method arises from the fact that the concrete which is to be spread is operated upon initially by a screw spreading mechanism which so disperses the material that it greatly simplifies the operation of the strikeoff plate. Moreover, the fact that the spreading screws are unconfined in the front renders possible the deposit of a larger quantity of material than could be effected by the use of a hopper and, at the same time, avoids the undesirable vertical surfaces sometimes found in machines of this type which initially contact with the material and tend to stall the machine.

Another important feature of my invention arises from the fact that the strike-off plate and screw spreading members of my device are capable of adjustment vertcally dumg the operation of the machine so that variations in consistency of the concrete may be compensated for as they arise.

Another important aspect of my method arises from the fact that the spreading screw members are rotated in such a direction that, in addition to the spreading function, they subject the mixed material to a wiping or spading action by the inclined continuous surfaces of these screw members. This results in a practically complete elimination of the interstices and voids which have hitherto occurred in the spreading of conapparatus preclude the escape of the concrete laterally over the tops of the side forms and maintain this concretewithin an area wherein it willbesubjectedtothewipingandspadingaction referred to. The result is a whirling and flowing action against the wing plates and side forms 'which' "puddles the concrete, prevents separation of the aggregate from the mortar and avoids the necessity for hand. spading.

Another important feature of my-invention re- 7 sides in the fact that theright and left-hand screw members are practically unconfined in the front and are confined in the rear thereof and also rest directly on the surface being formed, so that they operate freely and effectually to produce the action of wiping and spading, as well as spreading of the material upon the road surface. The effectiveness of this road building step is accentuated and increased by the fact that I have provided means for varying the amount of concrete fed to either of the right and left-hand screw members.

A still further important feature of m invention arises from the fact that the spiral spreading members and the strike-oil plate are capable of simultaneous vertical adjustment but are also capable of being adjusted relatively to eachother. The advantage of this structure is further increased by the mounting of the wing plates upon the members which carry the strike-off plate and the spiral spreading member, so that these three elements of my apparatus may be simultaneously adjusted vertically with a minimum of effort.

Another valuable feature of my invention consists in the provision of means for delivering the mixed concrete to the spiral spreading members from the side of the road, provision being made so that either side of the road may be selected or so that the material may be fed from both sides of the road simultaneously. The ability to feed the material to the spiral conveyers from the side of the road avoids the necessity of causing vehicles to travel upon the surface which has been previously graded for the reception of the concrete slab. Also, the ability to feed the material from either or both sides of the road obviously increases the speed of the road building operation.

Various other important features of my invention will appear from the appended claims. Also, it will be understood that my invention is not necessarily limited to the handling of mixed concrete but that various features thereof are ap-- plicable to the handling of other materials.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Apparatus for spreading aggregate upon a surface comprising a framework," oppositely pitched screw spreading members, means for rotating said screw spreading members, means associated with said screw spreading members for receiving gregate adjacent the side of the surface upon which the aggregate-is being spread and delivering it to .the adjacent ends of said screw spreading members, and a hopper forming part of said delivering means and adjustable for varying the proportion of the received aggregate which is delivered to the respective oppositely pitched screw spreading members.

2. Apparatus for spreading ag gate upona surface comprising a framework, oppositely pitched screw spreading members, means for rotati'ng'saidscrew spreading members, means associated with said screw spreading members for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the surface uponwnich the aggregate is being spread and delivering it to the adjacent ends of said screw spreading members, and a hopper forming part of said delivering means and slidably adjust able for varying the proportion of the received aggregate which is delivered to the respective oppositely pitched screw spreading member's.

3. Apparatus for spreading aggregate upon a surface comprising a framework, oppositely pitched screw spreading members, means for rotating said screw spreading members, means associated with said screw spreading members for receiying aggregate adjacent the-side of the surface upon which the aggregate is being spread, and delivering it to the adjacent ends of said screw spreading members,and means for varying the proportion of the received aggregate which is delivered to the respective oppositely pitched screw spreading members.

4. Apparatus for spreading aggregate upon a surface comprising a framework movable along the surface upon which the material is' to be spread, oppositely pitched screw spreading members carried upon said framework, means on said framework for effecting. rotation of said spreading members, said screw spreading members being so pitched and rotated that they deliver the material laterally outward towards the edges of the road surface, means for delivering the mixed concrete to the adjacent ends of said oppositely pitched screw spreading members, means for varying the amount of concrete fed to each of the screw spreading members, and means for gzrtically adjusting said screw spreading mem- 5. Apparatus for spreadingag'gregate comprising a framework, a screw spreading member, a strike-01f plate in association with said member, wing members connected to said member and said plate, a single means connecting said spreading member, said plate, and said wing members to said framework, and means for adjusting the level of said spreading member, said plate, and said wing members.

6. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, a screw spreading member, a strike-off plate in association with said member, wing members connected to said member and said plate, a single means connecting said spreading member, said plate, and said wing members to said framework, and means for simultaneously adjusting the level of said spreading member, said plate, and said wing members.

7. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, a screw spreading member carried upon said framework, a strike-oil plate mounted on said framework in cooperative relation with said member, means associated with said screw spreading member for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the surface upon which it is to be spread. and delivering it to said screw spreading member and means for vertically adjusting said spreading member and said plate simultaneously.

8. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, a screw spreading member carried upon said framework, a strike-oil. plate mounted on said framework in cooperative relation with said member, means associated with said screw spreading member for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the surface upon which it is to be spread and delivering it to said screw spreadand said plate'relative to each other.

9. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, oppositely pitched screw spreading members carried upon said framework, ,a strike-off plate mounted on said framework in cooperative relation with said members, means associated with said screw spreading member for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the surface upon which it is to be spread and delivering it to said screw spreading member and means for vertically adjusting said spreading members and said plate simultaneously.

10. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, a screw spreading member carried upon said framework, a strike-01f plate mounted on said framework in cooperative relation with said member, means associated with said screw' spreading member for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the surface upon which it is to be spread and delivering it to said screw spreading member, a single means connecting said member and said plate to said framework, and means for vertically adjusting said spreading member and said plate.

11. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, a screw spreading member carried upon said framework, a strike-off plate mounted on said framework in cooperative relation with said member, means associated with said screw spreading member for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the surface upon which it is to be spread and delivering it to said screw spreading member, a single means connected to said member and said plate pivotally mounted on said framework, and means for vertically adjusting said spreading member and said plate.

12. Apparatus for building roads comprising a framework mounted upon wheels, a screw spreading member for spreading the aggregate across the road surface, means for rotating said screw spreading member, means associated with said screw spreading member for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the surface upon which it is to be spread and delivering it to said screw spreading memberand means for vertically adjusting said spreading-member during its operation and during the movement of said framework.

13. Apparatus for building roads comprising a framework mounted upon wheels, a screw spreading member for spreading the aggregate across the surface to be covered therewith, a strike-of! plate associated therewith, means associated with said screw spreading member for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the surface upon which it is to be spread and delivering it to said screw spreading member, and means for vertically adjusting said'strike-ofl. plate and said spreading member during operation and during movement of said framework.

14. Apparatus for building roads comprising a framework mounted upon wheels, a strike-off plate, a screw spreader for spreading aggregate associated with said plate, means associated with said screw spreading member for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the surface upon which it is to be spread and delivering it to said screw spreading member, means for positively holding said plate and spreader at a given level, and means for adjusting the level of said plate and spreader during the operation of the apparatus.

15. Apparatus for building roads comprising a framework mounted upon wheels, oppositely pitched screw spreading members for receiving aggregate at-their inner ends and spreading it towards the edges of the road, a hopper in asso- I roads comprising a framework, means for effecting transportation of said framework along a surface upon which aggregate is to be spread, a strike-off plate mounted on said framework, a screw spreading member carried upon said framework and disposed in front of said strike-off plate with its lower edge above the surface upon which the material is to be spread but substantially at the same level as the lower edge of said strikeoff' plate, means for rotating said screw spreading member duringthe travel of said framework, and means associated with said screw spreading member for receiving aggregate adjacent theside of the surface upon which it is to be spread and delivering it to said screw spreading member.

17. Apparatus for spreading ag egate upon roads comprising a framework, means for effecting transportation of said framework along a surface upon which aggregate is to be spread, a strike-off plate mounted on said framework, a screw spreading member carried upon said framework and disposed in front of said strike-ofi plate with its lower edge above the surface upon which the material is to be spread but substantially at the same level as the lower edge of said strikeoil plate, means for rotating said screw spreading member during the travel of said framework, and means associated with said screw spreading member for receiving aggregate adjacent both sides of the surface upon which it is to be spread and delivering it to said screw spreading member.

18. Apparatus for spreading aggregate upon roadscomprising a framework, means for effecting transportation of said framework along a surface upon which aggregate is to be spread, a strike-off plate mounted on said framework, oppositely pitched screw spreading members carried upon said framework and disposed in front of said strike-off plate with their lower edges above the surface upon which the material is to be spread but substantially at the same level as the lower edge of said strike-off plate, means for rotating said screw spreading members during the travel of said framework, and means associated with said screw spreading members for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the surface upon which it is to be spread and delivering it to said screw spreading members.

19. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, means supporting said framework for movement above a surface upon which the aggregate is to be spread, a strike-oft plate mounted on said framework, a screw spreading member carried upon said framework and disposed in front of said strike-off plate with its lower edge above the surface upon which the material is to be spread but substantially at the same level as the lower edge of said strike-off plate. and means for vertically adjusting said screw spreading member and said strike-off plate simultaneously.

20. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, means supporting said framework for movement above a surface upon 16. Apparatus for spreading aggregate upon.

which the aggregate is to be spread, a strike-off plate mounted on said framework, a screw spreading member carried upon said framework and disposed in front of said strike-01f plate with its lower edge above the surface upon which the material is to be spread but substantially at the same level as the lower edge of said strike-off plate, means for vertically adjusting said screw spreading member and said strike-off plate simultaneously, and means for adjusting said screw spreading member and said plate relative to each other.

21. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, means supporting said framework for movement above a surface upon which the aggregate is to be spread, a strike-off plate, a screw spreading member disposed in front of said strike-off plate with its lower edge above the surface upon which the material is to be spread but substantially at the same level as the lower edge of said strike-off plate, a single means connecting said screw spreading member and strike-off plate to said framework, and means for vertically adjusting said spreading member and said strike-ofi plate.

22. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, means supporting said framework for movement about a surface upon which the aggregate is to be spread, a strike-off plate mounted on said framework, oppositely pitched screw spreading members carried upon said framework and disposed in front of said strike-off plate with their lower edges above the surface upon which the material is to be spread but substantially at the same level as the lower edge of said strike-off plate, and means for vertically adjusting said screw spreading members and said strike-off plate simultaneously.

23. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, means supporting said framework for movement above a surface upon which the aggregate is to be spread, a strike-off plate mounted on said framework, a screw spreading member carried upon said framework and disposed in front of said strike-01f plate with its lower edge above the surface upon which the material is to be spread but substantially at the same level as the lower edge of said strike-off plate, and means for vertically adjusting said spreading member during its operation and during movement of said framework.

24. Apparatus for spreading aggregate comprising a framework, a strike-off. plate, a screw spreading member in association with said strikeoff plate, said screw spreading member having its lower edge'at substantially the same level as the lower edge of said strike-off plate, wing members connected to said strike-off plate and said screw spreading member, and a single means connecting said strike-off plate, said spreading member and said wing members to said framework.

LION GARDINER. 

